Theus: Agent handling DePaul talks

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Reggie Theus will interview for the opening at DePaul.

"That's my understanding," Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis said prior to Wednesday night's game against Sacramento.

Theus, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1978, said he hasn't had a direct conversation with officials from the Chicago school, but said that his agent is handling initial conversations.

"I'm getting calls, but I'm not picking up my phone until after the game," Theus said.

The Timberwolves have lost 16 consecutive games, and Theus was responsible for the scouting report for Wednesday night's game against the Kings.

Theus played 13 seasons in the NBA and was an assistant coach to Rick Pitino at Louisville for two seasons. He later was the head coach at New Mexico State and led the Aggies to the 2007 NCAA tournament. Theus had a 41-23 record at New Mexico State before coaching the Sacramento Kings for one-plus seasons.

DePaul fired coach Jerry Wainwright in January, and assistant Tracy Webster was the interim coach for the rest of the season.

A DePaul spokesperson told the Chicago Tribune that Theus would interview on Thursday. The Timberwolves don't play again until Saturday.

While Theus said his energy is focussed on the Timberwolves, he also added that, "there's no doubt that I want to be a head coach again."

Theus was a rookie with the Bulls in 1979, the last time the Blue Demons reached the Final Four.

"It's a great city," Theus said. "I was there when DePaul was going good and I know that the city of Chicago will support them if you put a good product on the floor."

DePaul has struggled to do that for most of the past 20 years. Since 1992, the Blue Demons have advanced to the NCAAs only twice. The Blue Demons went 1-17 in Big East play this season and dating to the middle of the 2007-08 season, DePaul has won only two of its past 46 regular-season conference games.

Rambis said he will support Theus if he leaves for a head coaching position after only one season with the Timberwolves.

"I'm happy if he gets a job, I'm happy if he gets something he wants," Rambis said. "All the coaches who are here have head coaching aspirations. If they get an opportunity, I want them to take advantage of it. I'm all for it.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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